NZ spying
(Not the off-reference in the James Bond movie "Goldeneye" to a spying base in NZ)
The place is called Waihopai (pronounced Why-hope-eye) and it intercepts communications and contributes them to the "global war on terror". NZ does not have too cosy a relationship with the US since the 80s when they banned all Nuclear powered Ships from visiting (the Kiwi Luddites were afraid of a meltdown in the harbour) so any spying is not on their behalf but forwarded on anyway to try and win some good graces back.
The vandals that deflated the dome claimed they were acting in reasonable belief that they were preventing people in Iraq from suffering (seriously!) and found some nut-job judge to agree with them and acquit them. So the NZ government is currently trying to reclaim costs from them.
PS. When you climb the range of hills at the north of the valley these Domes are in (as I have done), they look like Mint Imperials from a distance.